More information : (SX 61247356) Cist (NR) (1)
At SX 61247355, on a slight north-west slope at 372m. OD. is the
remains of a possible cist. Only two boulders are visible (the
coverstone and the eastern side stone) and the remainder, one side
stone and one end stone (implied by touch). The open-ended box,
1.0m. by 0.5m. and 0.3m. deep lies within an irregular shaped peaty
mound 4.5m. by 7.8m. and 0.5m. high, possibly a peated up cairn.
Surveyed at 1:10 000 on MSD and at 1:2500 for AO records. (See
SX 67 SW 19). (2)
Worth (3) assigns Blackey Tor to the large outcrop N of the cairn. On a Duchy map (4) it is called Courton Tor and Blacka Tor is applied to the present Royal Hill, bereft of any major outcrop. (3-4)
SX 61247354. The remains of this cairn and cist are situated on a slight NW slope of a rounded high point (to the S of Courton Tor) at 372m OD; there are extensive views on all but the S side. It lies amidst a scattered spread of large natural earthfast boulders on a rather unevan peat layer covered by close cropped moorland pasture.
The cairn measures c. 4.2m by 3.9m and is up to 0.45m high; (although the perimeter is now ill-defined the mound is not 7.8m across as stated by Attrill). Stones protrude through the turf and there is an irregular ? upcast mound on the top; no kerb can be seen.
The incomplete cist is oriented NW-SE. It measures about 0.85m long, 0.4m to 0.55m wide and 0.25m deep internally. The upright W side slab is 0.9m by 0.2m by 0.25m and the surviving end slab is 0.4m by 0.2m by 0.25m. The E side is formed by a flat-sided boulder which is c. 1.1m long, at least 0.6m thick and 0.25m high. The SE side is open. The coverstone is 1.7m by 0.7m by 0.4m and leans against the W side of the cist. (5) |